Applications are now open for the 2026/27 Fully Funded British Council Women in STEM scholarships

Ednah Carrick 4 weeks ago

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Closing Date: Not Specified

Applications are now open for the 2026/27 Fully Funded British Council Women in STEM scholarships

British Council Women in STEM scholarships

The gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions is well documented. Not only do women make up a small fraction of the workforce and research teams in STEM, they are also published less, paid less and are less likely to reach positions of leadership than their male counterparts, despite being proven to be on average eight per cent more productive.

About Women in STEM scholarships

British Council wants to increase opportunities for women in STEM, strengthen female leadership in science and innovation, and promote a more diverse and gender-representative sector.

Access to education is a leading factor that contributes to the underrepresentation of women in STEM. The British Council’s Women in STEM scholarship programme addresses this by providing funding for one-year master’s degree programmes at top ranking universities and research institutions within the UK, for women from socioeconomically and disadvantaged contexts.

The Women in STEM scholarship programme provides:

Full scholarships – this includes monetary support, tuition fees, living stipends, travel and visa costs, health coverage fees and English language support. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £40,000.
Access to world-leading science and research universities – UK universities are globally recognised for science and research excellence. The UK is ranked second in the world for science and research.
Career opportunities – the scholarships help enhance women’s careers in STEM and enable them to promote research and innovation in their home country through their exposure to expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM fields.
Alumni networks – the scholarships provide a long-lasting platform to connect with UK alumni.

The scholarship programme is entering its sixth consecutive year. To date, the programme has engaged 43 leading UK universities and awarded around 500 scholarships.

This year, British Council is working with UK universities to provide up to 90 scholarships to women across 30 countries and territories. A list of participating universities and eligible countries/territories is provided on the apply for a scholarship page.

British Council Women in STEM scholarships Eligibility

Scholars must:

Be a woman, as defined under UK legislation.
Be a permanent resident of, and hold a valid passport or recognised international travel document from, one of the eligible countries listed, and be able to obtain a UK visa using the documentation they hold. Applicants must agree to return to their country of citizenship or residence for a minimum of two years after the scholarship ends, except in very exceptional circumstances where return would be impossible or unsafe.
Meet the entry requirement of the UK higher education institution for the course they apply for, including academic equivalent qualifications and English language proficiency.
Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree at the time of submitting the application for the scholarship. Students in the final year of their undergraduate degree may be considered if they will have completed their degree in time for enrolment to the master’s course in the UK and meet all matriculation requirements.
Demonstrate a case for financial support. Applicants must not be able to privately fund their UK studies and must not be in receipt of financial support from any other source [3] that duplicates the core benefits of the scholarship. Private savings that can top up the scholarship is permitted.
Preference will be given to candidates who have not had any significant international exposure or previously studied in the UK. This includes distance learning at UK universities or study at UK branch campuses abroad. British Council define significant experience as a period of study over one month, or enrolment on or completion of an international degree course. Short term visits such as study tours or conferences are permitted.
Indicate their preference for course and institution if applying to multiple institutions.
Be motivated and academically able to follow and benefit from a UK postgraduate taught course.
Be active in the STEM field with work experience or with a proven interest in the proposed subject area.
Be willing to contribute to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement in their home country after graduating from the master’s course in the UK.
Agree to maintain contact with the British Council and act as an ambassador for the UK, and engage with Alumni UK activities during and after their master’s course in the UK.
Demonstrate a plan and a passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from their home country.
Agree to their personal data being shared with the British Council for assessment and purposes of promotional activity, as a condition of applying for the scholarship.